Soviets Ease Border Crossing Rules for Some

MOSCOW — The Soviet Union has eased border formalities for people living in specified areas along the frontiers with Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania, the government newspaper Izvestia said Saturday.

Residents of more than 160 frontier villages now need only a letter or telegram of invitation and their internal passport, a standard identity document, to visit relatives across the border for one week. The visits could be extended if necessary.

Previously, such visits took a month or more to arrange. Applicants had to complete detailed forms and provide character references in order to get a cross-border visa.